Community sessions on mine extension to begin in September
Agnico Eagle Ltd. proposing extension to Meliadine mine that includes wind turbines
Community sessions for the proposed extension of Agnico Eagle’s Meliadine gold mine will be held in early September. (File photo)
Community information sessions on the proposed extension of Agnico Eagle Ltd.’s Meliadine gold mine will be held next month in seven hamlets, the Nunavut Impact Review Board has announced.
It said the sessions, which will be facilitated by NIRB, will take place in the seven communities potentially affected by the proposed extension: Rankin Inlet, Coral Harbour, Arviat, Baker Lake, Chesterfield Inlet, Naujaat and Whale Cove.
On April 14, Agnico Eagle submitted its proposal to NIRB to add an extension to the Meliadine mine, an open pit goldmine 25 kilometres north of Rankin Inlet.
Its plan calls for underground mining in three open pit areas of the mine, creation of a pathway between two underground mines, installation of 11 wind turbines, and the option to build an airstrip near the mine.
The extension would push the mine’s lifespan to the year 2043 from its current 2032, Agnico Eagle said.
On June 22, NIRB said it will carry out an assessment, termed a reconsideration, of the Meliadine mine extension proposal.
Since NIRB stated the proposal presents significant changes to the mine, it will likely require terms and conditions on the mine’s original licence to be modified.
Several government and regional organizations have commented that the proposed extension is not part of the agreed-upon terms for it in 2015, when the mine became certified.
Public consultation, and potentially a public hearing, are a part of NIRB’s review process.
Coral Harbour’s meeting will be held Sept. 6, Rankin Inlet’s on Sept. 7, Arviat on Sept. 8, Baker Lake on Sept. 9, Chesterfield Inlet on Sept. 10, Naujaat on Sept. 12, and Whale Cove on Sept. 13.
All meetings will be held at each hamlet’s community hall, except for Baker Lake’s which will be at Nunamiut conference room in the Nunamiut Lodge Hotel.
It is best for their communities. Hire only from their communities even baker lake mines do the same let only their communities work only at mines. If not hire only those without the right education or hire those in desperate needs. Use your profisonalism since these mines are profesionals in keeping their mines clean and in good shape.
Will this be anothe debacle. Endless meetings and speeches. Dead lines missed. Claims made about the impact of the mine extension. With poor or no data to back them up. Competeing interests of Inuit organizations. Ending up with the mine operator becoming so frustraded with the entire proceedure. That they decide not to continue with there plans to expand. Is this going to be another example of the Baffin Land hearings?